The association of smoking and risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Purpose

To clarify the relevance between smoking and diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods

Published evidence were searched in MEDLINE and EMBASE from the databases began until Feb. 2017. Studies evaluating the association between smoking and diabetic retinopathy or evaluating the risk factors of diabetic retinopathy including smoking were included.

Conclusions

Compare with non-smokers, the risk of diabetic retinopathy significantly increased in smokers with type 1 diabetes while significantly decreased in smokers with type 2 diabetes. However, this result did not change the importance of smoking cessation for public health.